Pipe-cleaner.



PATENTBDVMARS, 1908.

W. OSULLIVAN. PIPE CLEANER.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 21,1906.

#WTA/5555 UNITED sTATEs PATENT oE-EIoE.

WILLIAM OSULLIVAN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO MANHATTAN BRIAR PIPE COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

PIPE -CLE ANER.

` Speccation of Letters Patent.

Patented. March 3, 1908.

Application led May 21| 1906. Serial No. 31'7920.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM OSULLIVAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of NewYork and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Pipe-Cleaners, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to new and useful improvements in pipe cleaners especially adapted for cleaning the bore in the stems, or the bowls of smoking pipes.

The invention has a number of important objects in view, chief among which may be mentioned comp actness extensibility, and variation as to length and diameter.H

In normal condition the cleaner is of such shape and dimensions as to enable one or a number to be conveniently carried in the vest pocket, or in an ordinary match box, such as the well known safety match box now in general use. The construction is such that it may be readily and easily extended so as to be used with pipe-stems of different lengths, and by such extension is alterable as to diameter so as to fit or enter and clean pipestem bores or bowls of different dimensions.

Briefly and generally stated, the invention comprises a normally compacted sinuous crimped or spirally coiled core of non-contractile material having a suitable cleanin or abrading composition or material attache thereto and extending throughout substantially the length of the core. l

The invention further comprises a normally compacted crimped sinuous or spirally coiled strand or strands constituting a core having attached cleaning material throughout substantially its entire length, one or both ends of the core being straight.

The invention further comprises the features of construction hereinafter described in detail, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and finally defined in the claims which form a part of this specification.

In the annexed drawing which is illustrative of one embodiment of the invention,- Figure l is a plan view of one of my improved cleaners in the condition and shape it assumes normally Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the same cleaner partially extended; Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the cleaner still further extended or drawn out; Fig. 4

is a similar view showing one part of the cleaner partially extended and the other part wholly extended g Fig. 5 is a view showing the cleaner wholly extended 5 and Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail view of one end of the cleaner showing the core or strand stripped of the cleaning substance or material.

In the preferred construction of the invention, which is the form I have elected to best illustrate one embodiment thereof, the cleaner is shown as comprising a'core composed of two intertwisted strands of wire or similar material 1, having attached thereto as a covering, a suitable cleaning or abrading composition or material. In the present instance this material consists of fibers of cotton, wool, paper, sponge, or bristles 2. If fibers are employed, they may be of any suitable kind, such as paper, wool, or the like, it being understood that I do not limit myself to any particular cleaning composition or material. The fibers, if these are employed, are interwoven or interconnected with the twisted strands 1, as best illustrated in Fig. 6 of the drawing. The strands 1 are preferably composed of ductile metal, or non-contractile material, for a purpose presently to appear.

The coated or covered core thus formed, is then given a compacted crimped or sinuous formation, and is shown in the preferred embodiment as spirally coiled into compact rings as at 3, Fig. l', which illustrates the normal condition of the cleaner, the opposite ends 4, one or both, being left straight to act as finger grasping portions to facilitate the operation of extending or drawing out the` cleaner when it is desired to put the same in condition for use, and to provide a straight end that may be readily inserted in the bore of a pipe stem.

It will be understood that the closer the coils or crimps are compacted or brought together the greater will be the diameter of the cleaner. Accordingly, therefore, if the crimps or coils are only partially extended or drawn out, as in Fig. 2, a cleaner of relatively large diameter is provided such as is especially adapted for cleaning bores of large dimensions. When extended or drawn out to a greater extent, as in Fig. 3, the cleaner is in condition to enter and cleanse smaller bores,

Y and when fully drawn out, as in Fig. 5, it'will apparent that the coils will remain in whatf ever shape or condition they are made to assume. I

VVhile'I have herein shown the cleaner as spirally coiled, I do not wish` to be understood as limiting myself to this specific form of the device, for it will be obvious that the core may be otherwise bent or crimped in sinuous form and still contain the feature of extensibility which is in fact the soul and spirit of the invention. Likewise, l do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to a core having covering of fiber, interconnected with the twisted strands constituting the core, as the cleaning material may be otherwise connected and may be of other substance.

The compact shape of the coil makes it possible to pack these cleaners, one dozen or more in a small envelop or box suitable for carrying in the vest pocket, or one or more of them may be placed in an ordinary match box to be used by the smoker whenever he finds it necessary or desirable to clean his pipe.

One of the important features of the present invention, aside from its compact form, is its spiral shape, which not only renders the device adjustable to fit or enter and clean any size bore, but actually increases the solid diameter of the cleaner7 without rendering it too large to enter the bore of the stem, and insure the removal of every particle of crusty sediment which the ordinary straight cleaner Will not.

It will be seen that the core or strand is normally compact; that it may be readily extended to secure the desired diameter, and that, since it has no inherent contractile property, it will remain set in any extended coni dition to which it may be brought by the user.

By the terms crimped or sinuous, as employed in the specification and claims I not only contemplate a spirally coiled core, but a core bent or folded in any manner so as to impart thereto the characteristics of compactness and extensibility.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. An extensible pipe cleaner having a non-contractile sinuous core, the undulations of which are normally compacted and in a straight or substantially straight condition.

2. An extensible pipe cleaner consisting of a non-contractile core having cleaning material associated therewith, said core having a normally compacted sinuous form whereby it may be extended and maintained in its extended condition by reason of the inherent non-contractile property thereof.

3. An extensible pipe cleaner consisting of a non-contractile core having a cleaning surface, said core being normally sinuous in form and capable of being extended and maintained in an extended condition by reason of the inherent non-contractile property thereof.

4. An extensible pipe cleaner consisting of a non-contractile core having a cleaning surface, said core being normally sinuous in form and capable of being extended and maintaining an extended sinuous form.

-5. An extensible pipe cleaner having a non-contractile c ore sinuous in form throughout substantially its entire length, the siriuous portion of the core being normally compacted and capable of being drawn out and maintaining a straight or substantially straight condition.

6. An extensible pipe cleaner having a non-contractile sinuous core normally compacted and variable as to length and diameter.

7. A pipe cleaner having a normally compacted freely extensible core of non-contractile material.

8. A pipe cleaner consisting of a freely extensible core of non-contractile material, said core having cleaning fibers associated therewith.

9. A pipe cleaner having a freely extensible core composed of inter-twisted 'strands and attached cleaning fibers.

10. A pipe cleaner consisting of a freely extensible core composed of inter-twisted strands having cleanin fibers associated therewith throughout its ength.

11. A pipe cleaner consisting of a normally capable of being drawn out and maintained core consisting of a spirally coiled strand having attached cleaning Jfibers, one end of the core being straight.

16. An eXtensible pipe cleaner having a core consisting of a lurality of inter-twisted siirally coiled stran s having interconnected Witnesses:

c eaning fibers throughout their length, the L. A. HAMMERSLEY, opposite ends of the core being straight. G. P. STACY.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing Witnesses. i WILLIAM OSULLIVAN. 

